Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mirjam Barrueto, Anne Forshner, Jesse Whittington, Anthony P. Clevenger, Marco Musiani
Summary: Protected areas are crucial for species conservation, but human-caused mortality and recreational activities can have negative impacts on wildlife populations. A study conducted in southwestern Canada revealed that wolverine density within protected areas was three times higher than outside, but it declined over a ten-year period. Wolverine density and detection probability were positively associated with snow cover and negatively influenced by human recreational activity and development. The annual harvest rate exceeded the maximum sustainable rate. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring population trends and addressing key conservation concerns to prevent unnoticed declines.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kathleen A. Carroll, Robert M. Inman, Andrew J. Hansen, Rick L. Lawrence, Kevin Barnett
Summary: This study prioritized wolverine connectivity under future climate conditions using integer linear programming and identified privately owned areas where voluntary landowner easements could improve landscape functionality for wolverine connectivity. The estimated median easement costs ranged from $8,762 to $12,220 across different solutions, demonstrating the utility of optimization problems for connectivity conservation and offering a proactive tool to engage potential collaborators for the conservation of various subalpine species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ehsan Moqanaki, Cyril Milleret, Pierre Dupont, Henrik Broseth, Richard Bischof
Summary: After centuries of persecution, large carnivore species in Europe and North America are experiencing a rebound in their populations. Factors such as ecological traits, environmental conditions, historical persecution, and protection have influenced the distribution and density of these species. Using spatial capture-recapture models and data from Norway and Sweden, it was found that distance from the relict range and regional management and environmental conditions were key factors affecting the current density of wolverines in the Scandinavian Peninsula. This study emphasizes the importance of population-level monitoring for understanding large carnivore populations in an anthropogenic landscape.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jason T. Fisher, Sean Murray, Mirjam Barrueto, Kathleen Carroll, Anthony P. Clevenger, Doris Hausleitner, William Harrower, Nicole Heim, Kim Heinemeyer, Aerin L. Jacob, Thomas S. Jung, Andrea Kortello, Andrew Ladle, Robert Long, Paula MacKay, Michael A. Sawaya
Summary: Wolverines are an indicator of conservation success or failure in northern ecosystems but research distribution and focus vary. DNA and telemetry are the most common research methods. Long-term monitoring programs in Scandinavia provide abundant information, while coordination is lacking in North America. Protected areas are crucial for wolverine conservation globally.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cyril Milleret, Soumen Dey, Pierre Dupont, Henrik Broseth, Daniel Turek, Perry de Valpine, Richard Bischof
Summary: Open-population spatial capture-recapture (OPSCR) models are used to estimate density and demographic parameters by utilizing spatial information from individual detections across multiple occasions. However, the estimation of spatial variation in vital rates within OPSCR models is not commonly practiced or extensively tested. In this study, we proposed a Bayesian OPSCR model that incorporates spatial covariates to account for spatial variation in survival, and also estimates local density-dependent effects on survival. Simulation results demonstrate that OPSCR models provide reliable inferences on the impact of spatial covariates on survival, including different spatial determinants for multiple competing sources of mortality. Estimation of local density-dependent survival was feasible but required additional data due to the complexity of the model. Failure to consider spatial heterogeneity in survival led to a positive bias of up to 10% in abundance estimates. We further demonstrate the empirical application of the model by investigating the impact of country and density on cause-specific mortality of female wolverines (Gulo gulo) in central Sweden and Norway. The ability to make population-level inferences on spatial variation in survival is a crucial step towards a fully spatially explicit OPSCR model capable of disentangling the role of multiple spatial drivers of population dynamics.
Article
Zoology
Kathleen A. Carroll, Andrew J. Hansen, Robert M. Inman, Rick L. Lawrence, Michael Cherry
Summary: In the contiguous United States, wolverines typically inhabit semi-isolated subalpine habitats, with the importance of habitat varying slightly by sex and selection scales. Wolverine habitat selection is largely influenced by high-elevation structural features, performing better at the second order of selection scales.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Evan W. Hessels, Eric C. Lofroth, Richard D. Weir, Jamieson C. Gorrell
Summary: Molecular analyses of genetic diversity in Vancouver Island wolverine population did not show significant genetic distinction from mainland population, suggesting that conservation efforts should focus on estimating population size and potential for natural recolonization.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Malin Aronsson, Henrik Andren, Matthew Low, Jens Persson
Summary: This study provides baseline information on denning behavior of GPS-collared female wolverines. It found that females shift den sites and the distance between den sites increases during the denning season. Bayesian modeling was used to calculate probabilities of whether two den sites belonged to the same female or neighboring females.
Article
Ecology
Piia M. Kukka, Thomas S. Jung, Fiona K. A. Schmiegelow
Summary: The study used 27 years of harvest data to examine wolverine trapping patterns in the Yukon. Higher harvest rates were found in southwestern Yukon, where human population and roads are concentrated, while lower harvest rates were observed in northern and eastern Yukon. The study highlights the importance of harvest refugia and the preservation of wilderness regions for sustaining wolverine populations.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Si Lok, Timothy N. H. Lau, Brett Trost, Amy H. Y. Tong, Richard F. Wintle, Mark D. Engstrom, Elise Stacy, Lisette P. Waits, Matthew Scrafford, Stephen W. Scherer
Summary: The study presents a chromosomal-level genome assembly of a male North American wolverine, showcasing high contig N50 and near complete representation of the gene set. Genes related to aggressive behavior models, innate immune system, and coronavirus infection modality were annotated, providing crucial resources for the conservation and study of wolverines.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Eunsang Cho, Rachel R. McCrary, Jennifer M. Jacobs
Summary: Projected changes in extreme snow-related indicators show decreases in the continental US and southern Canada, but increases in Alaska and northern Canada by the late 21st century. California and the Pacific Northwest are expected to experience an increase in extreme runoff potential, potentially leading to larger rain-on-snow floods. Regions with high variability among model ensembles need further investigation to reduce regional uncertainties.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas W. Glass, Audrey J. Magoun, Martin D. Robards, Knut Kielland
Summary: Understanding the ecology of wolverines and predicting their vulnerability to climate change and human activity in the Arctic is crucial. This study reviews and synthesizes information from Western science and Indigenous Knowledge, updating the distribution map and identifying research priorities for wolverine conservation.
Article
Biology
E. S. Zakharov, V. M. Safronov, A. A. Stepanova, A. I. Pavlova, N. N. Grigorieva, N. N. Zakharova
Summary: The study investigated the age structure of wolverines using three new methods, providing a way to estimate the age of individuals within different age groups. This research has practical implications for zoological research and hunting practices.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ahmad Hasan Nury, Ashish Sharma, Lucy Marshall, Ian Cordery
Summary: Modeling the impact of climate change on streamflow in remote regions like the Tibetan Plateau is a challenge due to sparse data. This study uses a hydrologic model to simulate future changes, indicating a decrease in snow cover and an increase in streamflow, but a decrease in water supply reliability. Similar changes are expected for other rivers originating in the Tibetan Plateau.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Bass, Naomi Goldenson, Stefan Rahimi, Alex Hall
Summary: The Colorado River Basin, a vital natural resource for the semi-arid southwestern United States, has experienced a decrease in runoff due to anthropogenic warming and CO2 increase. The reduction in runoff is approximately 8.1% per degree Celsius of warming, but decreases to 6.8% when considering vegetation response to CO2. Present-day conditions show a 10.3% reduction in runoff due to human-induced temperature and CO2 increase. Snowpack regions in the basin have been disproportionately affected, experiencing double the rate of runoff decline compared to non-snowpack regions.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
